HRIDAY scheme development assessed

The DM Sarvajnaram Mishra expressed strong displeasure at delays in the development work envisioned under the HRIDAY scheme. He said responsibility for the delays will be assessed and officers held accountable.

On Friday, a meeting of the City Level Advisory and Monitoring Committee was held in the Collectorate Auditorium to discuss the implementation of the HRIDAY scheme.

The committee conducted a review of beautification projects on the Parikrama paths around Vrindavan and Govardhan, as well as around the Sri Krishna Janma Sthan.

The DM said that works costing Rs 8 crore out of the 35 crores allotted in the HRIDAY are impossible to execute. He asked the Braj Foundation, the authors and executors of the Vrindavan detailed project report (DPR), why they had not been able to foresee that these tasks would be removed. He wanted to know why these moneys had not been earmarked for other development works.

It was decided by the committee that they will conduct a survey on Sunday. The members decided unanimously that the remaining 8 crores should be spent in one place.

Beautification of the Kalidah parking lot was included in the HRIDAY scheme when it had already been included by the tourism department in the Pro-Poor Tourism project. (See here.)

Shailjakant Mishra, Vice President of Brij Tirth Vikas Parishad, said that whatever beautification work is done in the area will be in line with religious sentiments.